2007 Pet Food Tragedy

In March 2007, Menu Foods and other pet food makers voluntarily recalled over 60 million cans and pouches after contaminated wheat gluten and rice protein imported from China-tainted with melamine and cyanuric acid-caused acute kidney failure, reportedly killing up to 8,500 pets across North America. The contaminated ingredient was intentionally added to boost apparent protein content during testing, triggering extensive recalls, congressional action, and billions in financial losses for affected companies like Menu Foods, though few regulatory protections emerged before later legislation.

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